货

貨

huò

化 + 贝

HSK 3.0Level 4

Definitions

huò (noun) goods; merchandise

huò (noun) money

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 贝 represents the meaning and 化 represents the sound. Simplified form of 貨.

Semantic: 贝 Phonetic: 化

About

货（the simplified form of 貨）is a phono-semantic compound. Its lower component, the radical 贝 (bèi), is a depiction of a cowrie shell, an ancient form of currency, and it anchors the character in the realm of money and commerce. The upper component 化 (huà) supplies the pronunciation; although 化 means "to change" or "transform", it functions phonetically here. Originally, the character referred to wealth, currency, and the shells used as coins. Over time, its meaning narrowed to tangible goods for trade: merchandise, wares, and freight.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这货质量很好。

Zhè huò zhìliàng hěn hǎo。

This product is of very good quality.

货物已经送到了。

Huòwù yǐjīng sòng dào le。

The goods have already been delivered.

这批货需要检查。

Zhè pī huò xūyào jiǎnchá。

This batch of goods needs to be inspected.

网上购物非常方便。

Wǎngshàng gòuwù fēichāng fāngbiàn。

Online shopping is very convenient。

我们商店的货源很充足。

Wǒmen shāngdiàn de huòyuán hěn chōngzú。

Our store has a very ample supply of goods.

进口货物要办理清关手续。

Jìnkǒu huòwù yào bànlǐ qīngguān shǒuxù。

Imported goods require customs clearance procedures.

这个供应商的出货速度很快。

Zhège gōngyìngshāng de chūhuò sùdù hěn kuài。

This supplier's shipping speed is very fast.

期货市场的交易存在一定风险。

Qīhuò shìchǎng de jiāoyì cúnzài yīdìng fēngxiǎn。

Trading in the futures market carries certain risks.

Related Characters

Component: 化

Component: 贝

货